Two charged in New Hanover County as part of NC illegal voting crackdown

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - Two men have been charged with illegally voting in New Hanover County, according to the Eastern District of North Carolina’s U.S. Attorney’s Office (USANCE).

The USANCE said 62-year-old Richard John Reid and 58-year-old Taso Gretes are facing charges of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and voting by an alien.

“Protecting the integrity of our elections is fundamental to preserving our constitutional republic,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “Indeed, the right to vote is the primary seed from which all other rights and liberties sprout. When noncitizens steal your vote, they can create an unamerican government that strips all liberty and freedom from citizens. Every unlawful ballot silences the voice of a lawful voter, striking at the core of our great nation.”

Reid is a native of the United Kingdom who registered to vote in 2002 and voted in the following elections:

• General elections in 2024, 2020, 2012 and 2008
• Primary elections in 2012 and 2008

Gretes is a native of Greece and a citizen of Canada who registered to vote in 2022 and voted in the 2024 general election.

Both men were lawful permanent residents of the United States at the time of the alleged incidents.

The USANCE said Reid and Gretes are amongst 30 people charged this year in North Carolina for illegally voting. The FBI and HSI are investigating the cases.